Synonyms & Antonyms for initiate

Choose the Right Synonym for initiate

Verb

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable. begin, opposed to end, is the most general.
begin a trip began dancing start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.
the work started slowly commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.
commence firing commenced a conversation initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.
initiated diplomatic contacts inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.
the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.
ushered in a period of economic decline

Examples of initiate in a Sentence

Verb

Doctors have initiated a series of tests to determine the cause of the problem.
The company initiated judicial proceedings against them.
The new recruits will be initiated tomorrow night.
He was initiated into a secret society.

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'initiate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.